Here are our Scriptures on Giving Thanks and being thankful to God in every situation. May you be blessed as your read our Thanksgiving bible verses from the Old and New Testament below.
Scriptures on Thanksgiving
1 Thessalonians 5:18
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Ezra 3:11
And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
1 Chronicles 16:34
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Corinthians 4:15
For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the Thanksgiving of many rebound to the glory of God.
On Giving Thanks At All Times
These verses emphasize that gratitude is the continuous will and expected attitude of the believer in every circumstance.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing.
Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with Thanksgiving;
Public Worship and Thanks
These scriptures instruct us on expressing gratitude through corporate worship, music, and song.
Psalm 100:4-5 Enter into his gates with Thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Psalm 95:1-6 O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation... Let us come before his presence with Thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God... O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.
Psalm 105:1-3 O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.
Ephesians 5:19-20 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 116:17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of Thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.
Psalm 35:18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
Psalm 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with Thanksgiving.
Psalm 118:19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord:
Ezra 3:11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
Thanking God for His Character and Works
These verses focus our gratitude directly on God's nature, eternal goodness, and powerful deeds.
1 Chronicles 16:34 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 107:1 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 136:26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 7:17 I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.
Isaiah 12:5 Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.
Psalm 9:1 I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works.
Biblical Sholars' Views on Thankfulness in The Scriptures
| Word + Transliteration + Meaning | Scripture | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|
| תּוֹדָה — todah — thanksgiving, confession of praise | Psalm 50:14 — “Offer unto God thanksgiving…” | Scholars note that todah expresses gratitude through verbal confession and sacrificial offering. Franz Delitzsch explains that it is not merely emotion but covenant acknowledgment of God’s acts (Biblical Commentary on the Psalms). The term often appears in contexts of worship, showing thanksgiving as a public declaration of God’s faithfulness. |
| יוֹדֶה — yodeh — to give thanks, praise | Psalm 136:1 — “O give thanks unto the LORD…” | C. F. Keil highlights that yodeh involves recounting God’s deeds verbally (Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament). It is active gratitude, not passive emotion. The word stresses telling others of God’s goodness. |
| בָּרַךְ — barak — to bless, to speak good of | Psalm 103:1 — “Bless the LORD, O my soul…” | According to Gesenius, barak conveys extending honor and gratitude toward God (Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon). It frames thanksgiving as blessing God in response to His benefits. The term reflects humility and reverence. |
| הוֹדָה — hodah — confession, praise, thanksgiving | Ezra 3:11 — “They sang… giving thanks unto the LORD…” | S. R. Driver describes hodah as acknowledgment of divine mercy (Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament). It blends confession and praise, showing gratitude for covenant love. The term often appears in restored-worship settings. |
| χάρις — charis — grace, gratitude, thanks | 1 Thessalonians 5:18 — “In everything give thanks…” | Joseph Henry Thayer notes that charis includes both “grace received” and “gratitude returned” (Greek-English Lexicon). Thanksgiving flows from recognizing God’s undeserved favor. Paul frames gratitude as a continual Christian posture. |
| εὐχαριστία — eucharistia — thanksgiving, grateful acknowledgment | Colossians 3:17 — “…giving thanks to God…” | B. F. Westcott explains eucharistia as articulate, deliberate gratitude (Saint Paul’s Epistles). It emphasizes conscious remembrance of God’s gifts. Early Christians used the term to describe worship shaped by thanksgiving. |
| εὐχαριστέω — eucharisteō — to give thanks | Luke 22:19 — “He took bread and gave thanks…” | Alfred Edersheim observes that eucharisteō reflects Jesus’ continual posture of gratitude (The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah). The term links thanksgiving with blessing and fellowship. It conveys acknowledging God as the giver of all good. |
| αἴνεσις — ainesīs — praise, thank-offering | Hebrews 13:15 — “…sacrifice of praise…” | Westcott explains ainesīs as gratitude expressed in verbal praise (Commentary on Hebrews). It is a “sacrifice” because it flows from faith during adversity. The term emphasizes thanksgiving as worship. |
| ὁμολογέω — homologeō — to confess, acknowledge | Hebrews 13:15 — “…fruit of lips giving thanks…” | Keil and Delitzsch note that in Hebrew contexts, confession and thanksgiving overlap. In Greek, homologeō includes the idea of openly acknowledging God’s goodness. It frames gratitude as a verbal testimony. |
| εὐλογία — eulogia — blessing, speaking well of | Ephesians 1:3 — “Blessed be the God…” | R. C. Trench writes that eulogia expresses speaking good of God in gratitude (Synonyms of the New Testament). Thanksgiving here is directed upward—our blessing of God in response to His blessing of us. The term underscores reciprocal generosity of heart. |
Colossians 4:2
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with Thanksgiving;
Ephesians 5:19-20
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
More On Giving Thanks Bible Verses Cont'd
Psalm 56:12
Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.
1 Corinthians 1:4
I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Psalm 35:18
I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
2 Corinthians 9:11
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us Thanksgiving to God.
Psalm 95:2-3
Let us come before his presence with Thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
Gratitude for Blessings and Provision
These scriptures highlight specific reasons for thankfulness, including grace, spiritual richness, and physical provision.
James 1:17-20 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures...
1 Timothy 4:4-5 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with Thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
2 Corinthians 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the Thanksgiving of many rebound to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 9:11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us Thanksgiving to God.
1 Corinthians 1:4-5 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Psalm 107:8-9 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
References:
Franz Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: Psalms
Classic 19th-century Hebrew exegesis discussing yādâ, hôdâ, and covenantal gratitude.
C. F. Keil & Franz Delitzsch — Commentary on the Old Testament
Provides lexical and theological background for Hebrew verbs relating to praise and thank-offerings.
William Gesenius — Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament Scriptures
Standard reference for meanings of Hebrew roots such as yādâ (“to praise/thank”) and tôdâ (“thanksgiving”).
S. R. Driver — Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament
Situates Hebrew praise and thanksgiving vocabulary within Israel’s worship tradition.
Joseph Henry Thayer — Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament
Primary lexicon for NT Greek words eucharisteō, charis, homologeō (confessional praise), and related terms.
Richard Chenevix Trench — Synonyms of the New Testament
Explains fine distinctions between NT Greek words for gratitude, grace, and praise.
B. F. Westcott — The Epistles of St. John & St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians
Discusses the theological relationship between gratitude, grace, and divine illumination.
Brooke Foss Westcott & Fenton J. A. Hort — The New Testament in the Original Greek
Text-critical foundation for analyzing NT passages on thanksgiving.
James Hastings — Dictionary of the Bible
Entries on “Thanksgiving,” “Praise,” and “Gratitude” with linguistic and historical notes.
Hermann Cremer — Biblico-Theological Lexicon of New Testament Greek
Traces theological development of charis and eucharistia.
Samuel Rolles Driver — A Treatise on the Use of Tenses in Hebrew
Explains how Hebrew verbal forms of yādâ carry aspectual nuances in thanksgiving songs.
The Pulpit Commentary (various authors, 19th century)
Provides exegetical comments on thanksgiving passages across OT and NT.
John Peter Lange — Lange’s Commentary on the Holy Scriptures
Notes theological dimensions of gratitude in Pauline writings.
Adam Clarke — Clarke’s Commentary
Offers devotional and linguistic insights on praise and thankfulness passages.
Albert Barnes — Notes on the Old and New Testaments
Examines gratitude as a moral and spiritual duty in both covenants.
Matthew Henry — Commentary on the Whole Bible
Classic pastoral exposition highlighting thanksgiving as worship and obedience.
J. A. Alexander — The Psalms Translated and Explained
Discusses Hebrew thanksgiving words in poetic and liturgical contexts.
Patrick Fairbairn — Typology of Scripture
Links OT thank-offerings with NT theology of spiritual thanksgiving.
John Eadie — Commentary on Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians
Detailed linguistic notes on eucharisteō and Pauline thankfulness patterns.
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (early edition)
Articles on thankfulness, gratitude, sacrifice of praise, and thanksgiving liturgy.
